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Computers & Business Machines

Imagine the loss, 100 years from now, if museums hadn't begun preserving the artifacts of the computer age. The last few decades offer proof positive of why museums must collect continuously—to document technological and social transformations already underway.

The Museum's collections contain mainframes, minicomputers, microcomputers, and handheld devices. A Cray2 supercomputer is part of the collections, along with one of the towers of IBM's Deep Blue, the computer that defeated reigning champion Garry Kasparov in a chess match in 1997. Other artifacts range from personal computers to ENIAC, the Altair, and the Osborne 1. Computer components and peripherals, games, software, manuals, and other documents are part of the collections. Some of the instruments of business include adding machines, calculators, typewriters, dictating machines, fax machines, cash registers, and photocopiers

This lightweight desktop electronic calculator has a turquoise and gray plastic case, an array of nine digit keys, and a zero bar and decimal point key below the digit keys. Keys for the arithmetic operations, a percent key, an equals key, and a cancel key are right of these. The liquid crystal display is behind the keys, and the power switch is on the side. The calculator has prongs for a cord but no cord. It has a clear plastic cover.

A stamp on the bottom of the inside of the case reads: 111772.

A mark above and behind the display reads: Sears C1. A sticker on the bottom reads in part: MODEL (/) NUMBER 801.58000 (/) CALCULATOR (/) # 142329. It also reads in part: ASSEMBLED IN MEXICO.

Sears reportedly first sold an electronic calculator in 1972. An advertisement for the C1 appeared in the Boston Globe in January of 1973, listing the machine as on sale for $89.88, $10.07 off the usual price of $99.95. The ad indicates that the calculator had an eight-digit capacity.

This is a prototype for a non-printing desktop electronic calculator made by Sony Corporation of Japan. It has an array of nine digit keys, with a zero bar and a decimal point key below these. The keyboard also includes keys for the four arithmetic operations and an equals key. The machine also has an on-off switch, a clear key, and an “attention” light on the left and five further keys on the right. Behind is a display for the answer. The machine shows result up to ten digits long in ten tubes.

A mark on the front left of the machine reads: SONY. A mark on the back reads: SONY ELECTRONIC CALCULATOR (/) MODEL MD-6 NO. 7K282214.

A slightly earlier Sony prototype calculator was exhibited at the World Electronics Show in New York in the latter part of March 1964, and the Japanese Pavilion at the New York World Exposition opening in April. Early engineering drawings for the MD-6 are dated July 18, 1964.

By the early 1960s, Sony Corporation had gained an international reputation for such consumer electronics products as a pocket transistor radio and a transistorized television. It exhibited a prototype desktop electronic calculator in 1964. In 1967, it released the SOBAX, or solid state abacus. It was called an "ICC" or integrated circuit calculator. By 1968, the machine sold in the United States for $1,250.

The non-printing, four-function desktop electronic calculator has an array of nine digit keys at the center front. Zero and decimal point keys are below these. Immediately to the right are cancel, subtraction, and addition keys. Right of these keys are memory clear, memory input, and total keys, as well as a round-off switch.

Immediately to the left of the digit keys are division, multiplication, and result keys. Left of these are repeat and memory out keys. Still further left are the on-off switch and the clear key. Behind is a fourteen-digit display window. A decimal point lever is below the result display, and a minus lamp is at the far left. The case includes a plastic handle at the top. A cord extends from the back and can be wound around protruding “cord anchors” for storage.

A mark on the left front of the machine reads: SOBAX. A tag at the top reads: SONY.

This lightweight, non-printing electronic calculator has an array of nine digit keys at the center with a zero bar and a decimal point key below these. On the right are arithmetic and clear keys. On the left are percentage, percent change, gross profit margin, item count, clear memory, recall memory, memory subtraction, and memory addition keys. A switch between a floating and a fixed decimal point, a constant switch, and a power switch are above the keyboard. Behind is a ten-digit vacuum fluorescent diode display. A cabinet has space for two D batteries. A jack for a cord is at the back, but there is no cord.

A mark on the front of the machine reads: Lloyd’s Accumatic 680. A label on the back reads in part: LLOYD’S (/) Model No. E680-3 (/) Series: 260A. It also reads in part MADE IN TAIWAN. The interior of the calculator has a single circuit board which has a mark on the bottom that reads: 5212232. A mark on the top of the circuit board reads: CA2486-03 K1. The chip by Texas Instruments has a mark that reads: TMC1073NL (/) KSLP 7736. The “7736” indicates that the chip was made in the 36th week of 1977.

Compare the Radio Shack EC-2001 (1986.0998.007) and Unisonic XL-101 (1986.0988.004). Radio Shack advertised the EC-2001 in American newspapers as early as 1978 and as late as 1985. For the power supply for this calculator, see 1986.0988.377.

References:

[advertisement], Boston Globe, December 5, 1978, p. 15.

[advertisement], New York Times, March 21, 1985, p. A22.

These advertisements are for the Radio Shack version of the calculator.

In the late 1960s and 1970s, desktop electronic calculators replaced mechanical adding and calculating machines. The Nippon Calculating Machine Corporation of Japan sold such machines under the brand name Busicom. It also supplied other firms with electronic calculators sold under other names. This is a Busicom electronic calculator sold by the Dayton, Ohio, firm of NCR.

The machine has nine digit keys and a 0 bar. Clear and clear entry keys are left of the digit keys. Keys to the right of the digit keys are for the four arithmetic operations and memory access. Apparently nine or ten digit numbers may be entered, with results of up to twelve digits.

A tag attached at the top reads: NCR. A tag attached to the back reads; NCR (/) Class 18-22. It also reads: THE NATIONAL CASH REGISTER COMPANY. (/) MADE IN JAPAN. It also reads: NO. 1-9940221. This serial number indicates a date of 1972.

This compact Japanese electronic calculator straddles the border between desktop and pocket calculators. It is too large to fit in the pocket but considerably more compact than Sharp’s QT-8B. It does not require a cradle to recharge batteries.

The calculator has an array of nine digit keys, with larger 0 and decimal point keys below. Right of these are a clear key, a key for indicating that multiplication (rather than addition) should be carried out, a key for indication that division (rather than subtraction) should be carried out, and a key for multiplication or division. The machine has an eight-digit capacity for all operations. In back of the keyboard is an eight-digit display. Above these are alarm and error indicators. A switch is on the side shifts between AC operation, off, and DC operation.

A mark on the front reads: SHARP. A tag on the back reads in part: SHARP MODEL EL-8. It also reads: NO. 1021694 (/) SHARP ELECTRONICS CORPORATION (/) 10 KEYSTONE PLACE, PARAMUS (/) NEW JERSEY 07652 MADE IN JAPAN. An AC adaptor comes with the device and is assigned number 1981.0922.05.1. The dimensions given do not include the adaptor, the case for the adapter, or the case for the calculator.

Inside the instrument are six nickel-cadmium batteries in a case, a calculator circuit board, a display circuit board, and eight tubes for the display. The four integrated circuits on the calculator board were made by North American Rockwell. A stamp below the calculator circuit board reads: 1021694.

The battery cover is marked in part: SHARP MODEL EL-84 (/) NICKEL-CADMIUM (/) RECHARGEABLE BATTERY. It also is marked: SHARP CORPORATION OSAKA, JAPAN. Hayakawa Electric adopted the name Sharp Corporation in January of 1970.

The SHARP EL-8 was widely advertised in the United States from early 1971 and sold for $345. This example was used by NMAH curator John White. An invoice received with the device (part of 1981.0922.05.2) indicates that he purchased it October 30, 1971.

Compare a slightly earlier Sharp machine, the model QT-8B (2006.0132.22). Also compare three versions of the EL-8 (1982.0656.01, 1981.0922.05, and 1991.0154.01).

References:

Examples of the Sharp EL-8 are discussed online at the Vintage Calculators Web Museum, The Old Calculators Web Museum, John Wolff’s Web Museum and the Datamath Calculator Museum.

This compact Japanese electronic calculator straddles the border between desktop and pocket calculators. It is too large to fit in the pocket but considerably more compact than Sharp’s QT-8B. It does not require a cradle to recharge batteries.

The calculator has an array of nine digit keys, with larger 0 and decimal point keys below. Right of these are a clear key, a key for indicating that multiplication (rather than addition) should be carried out, a key for indication that division (rather than subtraction) should be carried out, and a key for multiplication or division. The machine has an eight digit capacity for all operations. In back of the keyboard is an eight digit display. Above these are alarm and error indicators. A switch is on the side shifts between AC operation, off, and DC operation.

A mark on the front reads: SHARP. A tag on the back reads in part: SHARP MODEL EL-8. It also reads: NO. 006927Y (/) SHARP ELECTRONICS CORPORATION (/) 10 KEYSTONE PLACE, PARAMUS (/) NEW JERSEY 07652 MADE IN JAPAN. An AC adapter comes with the device and is included in the dimensions.

Inside the case are six nickel-cadmium batteries in a case, a calculator circuit board, a display circuit board, and eight tubes for the display. The four integrated circuits on the calculator board were made by North American Rockwell.

The battery case is marked in part: SHARP MODEL EL-84 (/) NICKEL-CADMIUM (/) RECHARGEABLE BATTERY. It also is marked: SHARP CORPORATION OSAKA, JAPAN. Hayakawa Electric adopted the name Sharp Corporation in January of 1970.

The SHARP EL-8 was widely advertised in the United States from early 1971 and sold for $345. This example came to the Museum in 1982.

Compare a slightly earlier Sharp machine, the model QT-8B (2006.0132.22). Also compare three versions of the EL-8 (1982.0656.01, 1981.0922.05, and 1991.0154.01).

References:

Examples of the Sharp EL-8 are discussed online at the Vintage Calculators Web Museum, The Old Calculators Web Museum, John Wolff’s Web Museum and the Datamath Calculator Museum.

This Japanese-made non-printing desktop electronic calculator has an array of nine digit keys with a zero bar and a decimal point key below. Immediately right of these is a column of four function keys. Right of these are a clear/clear entry key, a sign change key, a percentage key, and an equals key. Left of the digit keys are a power switch, a memory switch, a memory recall key, and a memory clear key.

Behind the keyboard is a twelve-digit display. The power adapter fits into the base of the machine, and has a plug extending from the back. A paper sticker on the base of the machine gives operating instructions. A mark just above the keyboard reads: Unisonic 767-1224. A paper sticker on the bottom gives instructions for operating the calculator. It is marked in part: MADE IN JAPAN. A mark on a sticker below this reads: NO. 04956. The number is written in pen.

The North American Foreign Trading Corporation of New York City, N.Y., first used the trademark Unisonic in 1968 for vacuum tubes, resistors and other electronic devices. In 1972 it extended the trademark to include calculators, receiving the registration in 1975.

This small, desktop electronic calculator has ten digit buttons and a decimal point button on the left front, five function buttons (for addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, total and canceling) on the right front, and an on/off switch. Instructions for doing basic operations are on the back of the calculator.

The instrument fits in a cardboard box and has a paper instruction leaflet dated November 72. The instructions are given in English and French.

The calculator has an eight-digit liquid crystal display. The chips in it were made by Rockwell . According to a mark on the object, the calculator was: ASSEMBLED IN MEXICO PRIMARILY OF (/) UNITED STATES PARTS. The serial number of this example is 129495 and it was sold by Lloyd's Electronics, Inc. of Compton, California (near Los Angeles).

The electronic calculator was owned by the late David H. Shayt, a curator at NMAH.

Compare object 2011.0186.01, an Accumatic 100. The 100 has a case and, a cover for the LCD screen, and, according to the illustration on the box, was supposed to have a power adapter.

This compact Japanese electronic calculator straddles the border between desktop and pocket calculators. It is too large to fit in the pocket but considerably more compact than Sharp’s QT-8B. It also does not require a cradle to recharge batteries.

The calculator has an array of nine digit keys, with larger 0 and decimal point keys below. Right of these are a clear key, a key for indicating that multiplication (rather than addition) should be carried out, a key for indication that division (rather than subtraction) should be carried out, and a key for multiplication or division. The machine has an eight-digit capacity for all operations. In back of the keyboard is an eight-digit display. Above these are alarm and error indicators. A switch on the side shifts between AC operation, off, and DC operation.

A mark on the front reads: SHARP. A tag on the back reads in part: SHARP MODEL EL-8. It also reads: NO. 1098161 (/) SHARP ELECTRONICS CORPORATION (/) 10 KEYSTONE PLACE, PARAMUS, N. J. 07652 (/) MADE IN JAPAN. This example lacks its AC adapter.

Inside the instrument are six nickel-cadmium batteries in a case, a calculator circuit board, a display circuit board, and eight tubes for the display. The four integrated circuits on the calculator board were made by North American Rockwell. A stamp below the calculator circuit board reads: 1098161.

The battery cover is marked in part: SHARP MODEL EL-84 (/) NICKEL-CADMIUM (/) RECHARGEABLE BATTERY. It also is marked: SHARP CORPORATION OSAKA, JAPAN. Hayakawa Electric adopted the name Sharp Corporation in January of 1970.

The SHARP EL-8 was widely advertised in the United States from early 1971 and sold for $345. This example was given to the Smithsonian by calculator collector Guy D. Ball.

Compare a slightly earlier Sharp machine, the model QT-8B (2006.0132.22). Also compare three versions of the EL-8 (1982.0656.01, 1981.0922.05, and 1991.0154.01).

References:

Examples of the Sharp EL-8 are discussed online at the Vintage Calculators Web Museum, The Old Calculators Web Museum, John Wolff’s Web Museum and the Datamath Calculator Museum.